Ford Focus Wagon 1.8 16v Flexifuel Futura (2007)
Great competitor with the Opel Zafira CNG puts his cards on gas
, Ford with its Flexifuel models to the alcoholic. A major advantage is that these cars are no separate tanks, filling systems or separate battery packs, but how like a Ford Focus on bioethanol in practice?
The Ford Focus wagon has a 1.8-liter Flexifuel on board, which is normally reserved for the C-Max and the compact Volvo models. The special feature of this engine is that he's suitable for E85, a mixture of 85 percent bioethanol and 15 percent gasoline. But you can also just euro 95 refueling. Then drive-ie 30 percent more economical, but you will of course not to the 70 percent CO2 reduction by the manufacturer promises. Where it came from? The bio-ethanol in E85 is produced from crops such as sugarcane and corn, which they grow, the necessary CO2 from the atmosphere. In this way, the CO2 emissions from cars that run on E85, as it were pre-compensated for. At the outlet, however you measure more or less the same CO2 emissions as the gasoline version of the motor.
Actually you notice anything unusual about the Focus Flexifuel. The 1.8-liter is a bit spicier than the 1.6-liter, but otherwise runs the Flexifuel as an ordinary Focus. Well, what is ordinary, send, and link switching is nice and precise and with a fair amount of sense. This is just a very nice car, in terms of ride quality remains a high chance. And also it is good for the environment. What more could you want?
Green haze
So we're pretty happy with the Focus, but that one sensitive point, unfortunately we can not ignore: E85 is unfortunately not available at any gas station. Indeed, there are currently only three places in the Netherlands where you can buy bioethanol. One is the Tamoil gas station in Beesd. This location is of course not entirely random, because the Volvo importer is around the corner and that brand is busy with E85.
But hey, we come up with a green tinge to eyes, from our hometown in the middle of the country is only a half hour drive. Plus we're going to do next Sunday, the Big Ben, then we drive through just Beesd. For the first some certainty on Saturday with the station called, asking them to open the next day. They are not ... but do not worry: there is an ATM outside. No problem, so! According to the onboard computer, the remaining range is 200 kilometers and 130 kilometers ahead of us, our mission just succeed!
On that Sunday we step after a trip Efteling tired but satisfied in the Focus. Ten minutes of Kaatsheuvel we perceive in the distance suddenly a herd of burning brake lights. The amusement park support group is enjoined to silence and after a few minutes we hear on the radio here just an accident has occurred.
Zero
Meanwhile, drop the needle of the fuel meter ever closer towards red stripe and well before we have reached Beesd, the orange tank light in the instrument panel. We seem to be the zero point on the fuel gauge approaching faster than the E85 pump in Beesd. Left and right of the highway are the green-yellow and yellow-red filling stations beckon to us. But no, we do something about global warming, we go for bio-ethanol. Slowly dissolves the file itself, but even when the road is completely free, let the authorized speed of 120 km / h for what he is against the custom and tuffs with about 100 km / h on the speedometer carefully further. Remaining range: to 73 km. The worried look on her father has recognized and directions on her lap, our salvation is near. "I think it's only a mile or seven, Dad." And, yes, after a few minutes we discover the huge billboard of the Volvo importer and later also the redeeming blue and white sign: Beesd!
The station is located near the highway happy and a fuel supply where we can drive 60 km along, we have our goal still amply achieved. The E85 pump is at the forefront, we put our environment and in good spirits next wonder we walk to terminal. Only enter, pump number Writing and ... Uh, pump number? The E85 pump is subjected to a thorough inspection, but a pump number is not in sight. However, he is next to pump 1, so ... The E85 pump refuses to cooperate. Now what? On one of the pumps adorned with the phone number of a repair service. Who knows who can help us. But unfortunately, on Sunday or failure, but no service. We are not angry, but very sad ...
Frustrated
What we desire for our nail-using car era before the particulate filter, without exotic drinking and having a radius of 900 kilometers! Completely honest, this is not because the Focus Flexifuel can not help it that the distribution of E85 is so flawed. Frustrated, we fill the tank with ordinary euro 95, because that drives the Focus as fine.
Bright spot in this context is that we ordinary gasoline to refuel a savings of about 60 cents per liter realize, because despite the substantial reduction of CO2 emissions with cars on bio-ethanol can be achieved, bio-ethanol with a price per liter of around E 1.92 more expensive than gasoline or diesel oil, natural gas and LPG to say nothing. In short, you need besides a sunny nature and a lot of time over a fun-filled purse in our country to have a car to the mixture of alcohol and gasoline to drive. Shame, because the Focus proves that even with a "responsible" car racing fun to experience. A fine mate friend who turns nice and willing to request the hard cornering by steaming. But what to do with this car? There's the rub: the government is not flexible because E85 is no way in the Netherlands 'helped'. You pay taxes just in terms of the full price (if you can find a pump, at least). And that's really too much, because you drive a fuel that costs more than EUR 95 in a car running on E85 than on gasoline consumed. A fine but car so hopeless? Well, not quite, because this Focus Wagon 1.8 takes as a normal place between 1.6 and 2.0 for the Ford pricelist. And he is just as delicious at euro 95. Example, if you live near the eastern border, where a reasonable number of E85 outlets for E 0.90 per liter for sale, he is certainly worth considering.
Verdict Ford Focus
(+) fine handling
(+) smooth performance
(+) Practical use
(-) thirsty
(-) On bio-ethanol fuel costs high
by: andyauto
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